Soon, Xbox 360 And Xbox One Won’t Require Xbox Live Gold For Netflix And Other Apps

Microsoft are bringing their Games with Gold program to Xbox One this June. The program, which is currently available on Xbox 360, provides two free games per-month to Xbox Live Gold subscribers.

The Xbox One version of the program will debut with Halo: Spartan Assault and Max: The Curse of Brotherhood. Additionally, discounted rates for Gold subscribers will be available as well, for Forza Motorsport 5, Ryse: Son of Rome and other unannounced titles.

Additionally, starting in June, Xbox users will no longer require an Xbox Live Gold subscription to access many of the service’s media features.

“This includes great gaming apps like Machinima, Twitch and Upload, popular video services like Netflix, Univision Deportes, GoPro, Red Bull TV and HBO GO, sports experiences like the NFL app for Xbox One, MLB.TV, NBA Game Time, NHL Game Center and more,” said Xbox chief Phil Spencer.

Online multiplayer, however, will still require an Xbox Live Gold membership.

Even though I think Pay to play online MP is ridiculous, MS has some neat online features. But pay to watch Netflix was so stupid.

otakumike

Good, Now I can give my 360 to my dad so he can watch Netflix.

malek86

Worth noting that the free games on X1 are going to be tied to the Gold subscription, which means it will become like PS+.

Good that they are finally removing some of those paywalls for apps though, those were ridiculous. No more paying for browser or DVR sharing, for example.

http://linkapics.tumblr.com/ Linka

Yeah, and really, that’s honestly their best choice.

On the bright side though, they might actually be able to get a better range and wider variety of games as a result for their Games for Gold service– PS+ gets a lot of very interesting and stellar games, and I’m pretty sure it’s mainly due to the agreement that if a person stops paying their yearly subscription, they lose them as long as it’s not active.

Let’s just say that I expect the PS+ Instant Games backlog to not be as extensive or varied if it were a permanent to-own service instead.

Landale

It should be noted that not all things paid are freed from still requiring Gold as well. Down in the fine print of their announcement is this about Xbox Fitness:
“An Xbox Fitness Pass gives you unlimited access for free with your Xbox Live Gold membership through December 2014, on Xbox One. Some Xbox Fitness content is not available via Fitness Pass. Some programs are also accessible to all Xbox One owners for purchase.”

So some of it’s content requires no passes, some of it one pass, and some of it two passes by the sound of it. At the moment this is the only service I’m seeing such oddities about, but it is worth keeping in mind for future reference.

ZEROthefirst

Hey MS you’re finally learning that people don’t like paywalls for other subscription based things… that or you’re just trying to lure more people away from competition at the moment and it will come back later.

Smooosh

Neat, now I can watch Twitch on my TV for stuff like LCS.

John Lawson

Too late for that I already gave up on Xbox back in 2011, this was a major reason.

AJ

I find that I play my PS3 a lot more because I use it to watch Netflix.

I bought my 360 first, and have more 360 games, but because I can’t use it to watch Netflix, I just don’t bother switching over to it as much.

Odd, as It seems such a small thing.

eilegz

never payed for live and never will, but on the trial i did like cross game voice chat

Atwa

I don’t know if we are supposed to rejoice at these news, not just snark at how it should always have been free. Absolutely ridiculous thing to charge money for in my opinion. Can use it for free on any other platform.

TheHolypopeofgaming

Feeling the pressure from Sony no doubt. This is very good news for XBOX fans sick of Live’s BS as I was. Having everything behind a paywall was why I jumped to PS3 to begin with. Will this bring me back? Probably not but it’s great news for those that don’t want to jump.

http://epiclyamazing.wordpress.com/ AzureNova

*Reads title of article*

O_O! They’re learning.

ronin4life

They’re becoming sentient…

O.o;;;

subsamuel01

Also they announced the new Kinect Less Xbox One, things are finally turning around for the system. Might pick one up eventually.

Paul Rodriguez

And it only took them how many years to come to their senses?

Anko Is Furious (King T.G.P)

Don’t think they came to their senses lol. Seeing as this is the first time in a while they’ve become desperate I think its to be expected.

MrRobbyM

Good for them and everyone planning to get either console. But this still leaves a bad taste seeing as they’re only doing this since things didn’t work out in their favor this gen. Either way, still a good thing.

rurifan

Never understood how they got away with this in the first place.

MaskedHeroxx

Why are ppl still buying xbox playing xbox talking about xbox oh god

Byron Kerrison II

I had honestly forgotten that you needed Gold for that shet.

ronin4life

To rurifan, Paul R.

People paid for it willingly, and not a small number of people. They didn’t *Just* get away with this, they had no reason in their minds not to continue to charge since people apparently put up with it.

Things have changed now, so they are wising up.

Godmars

Losing, maybe never even having, claim as the most popular Netflix platform to the PS3 almost as soon as it became available on that console when they had had exclusive rights should have told MS that they were doing something wrong. More so when that was one of XBL’s largest complaint.

Gojira Twit

LOL, and to think that only a couple years ago MS was teasing the idea of having another payment tier just for this media crap. Xbone is definitely turning into the Xbox 180.

Anko Is Furious (King T.G.P)

I think its safe to assume they’ve hit desperation lol. If that wasn’t the case I guarantee something like this wouldn’t have been changed.

Ruins72

so there’s no mention of YOUTUBE or Hulu…still can’t believe you have to pay for youtube…

jsecula

i was also wondering about the youtube app

Landale

Looking at the source YouTube is mentioned, though never specifically stated within the context of being taken out of the paywall. Hulu on the other hand is among those outright listed.

Keiji Johnson

LOL! I think you misspelled one of the discounted titles wrong, Ishaan. It isn’t called Son: Ryse of Rome, it’s RYSE: Son of Rome.
Just pointing that out, but it made for a good laugh as well. ^_^

Kalis Konig

Last Time…Internet Explorer…This time not having to pay extra to access services we already pay for. Let us celebrate?

darke

Celebrate, or ignore it because the announcement came too late and you’ve already bought a PS4? (That would be me.)

Besides, at least for me, if history has taught me anything is that unless I desire non-cross-platform dudebro shooters, I’m better off sticking with a PS* for my weird-gaming fix.

Guest

I think there’s a typo in the list of discounted titles coming soon, Ishaan. The first two words in the Ryse: Son of Rone title have been switched around.

Chris Hodges

Too late. Microsoft lost my business years ago for this very reason.

Video game stories from other sites on the web. These links leave Siliconera.